Character Story 7: The Two Mirror Copies
Kasumi
How are you holding up, Assistant?
Kasumi
I'm really sorry -- having you watch over Kiiri so often...
Kasumi
Now that the Shadow investigation has finally produced some results, various research labs and magicians have expressed interest.
Kasumi
Preparing official documents for the royal palace and being in constant correspondence is all a huge hassle.
Kasumi
Having to constantly judge people's intentions and watch out for deception tires me out. Aah, I'm exhausted.
Kiiri
"Great Detective!"
Kasumi
Wh-Wha.... Look here, suddenly clinging on to me is troubling.
Kasumi
You and I have possess a nearly identical mass. Which means our body weight is also the same. If you jump onto me with that much force I'll fall over.
Kiiri
"A difficult problem, isn't it?"
Kasumi
That it is... Hmm, I feel as though communication has really been established.
Kasumi
This is thanks to you, Assistant. Though conversation with you, her condition has clearly changed.
Kasumi
It's become clear that a sense of self and something like spontaneity has begun to sprout within her.
Kasumi
The strange part is, the reason is still unknown. I've made a deduction, but whether or not it holds up is unclear.
Kasumi
The research on Shadows hadn't progressed that far, so everything just feels like fumbling around at the moment.
Kiiri
"A difficult case, isn't it?"
Kasumi
That it is... Hmmm, I just can't get used to being spoken to by someone with the same face and voice.
Kasumi
Of course the disassociation is a problem, but there's also an uneasiness that arises from having to face myself.
Kasumi
Staring continuously into a mirror at my own insecure self would inevitably lead to some discomfort.
Yuuki
1. But you always seem so full of confidence.
2. Do you dislike Kiiri?
Option 1.
Kasumi
That's just the front I put on. I'm anxious all the time. And I waver whenever I'm unsure of that to do, or from an inferiority complex.
Kasumi
I'm still a teenage girl in the middle of puberty, you know?
Kasumi
Since the time I was working solo, I've had to bluff so those around me wouldn't take me lightly.
Kasumi
This "Great Detective" posturing is just to protect my weak, fragile self.
Kasumi
However she... Kiiri exposes the self that I hid deep beneath that act.
Kasumi
It seems the mood has taken a turn where I'm just laying bare my complexes.
Option 2.
Kasumi
It's not a matter of whether I like her or not, Assitant.
Kasumi
But about that. Between like and dislike, it's definitely like. Everyone has to have love for themselves, after all.
Kasumi
We all express fondness for things that take after us or that we share commonalities with. That's a basic human instinct we all need.
Kasumi
If we didn't have love for ourselves, we wouldn't even be able to breathe.
End of branches.
Kasumi
With all that being said, Kiiri is in large part a match with myself.
Kasumi
She is me. However, she's more of a constructed, idealized version of who I am at heart.
Kasumi
A facade dressed up by a so-called self-esteem stylist.
Kasumi
But still. Kiiri is an outer representation of my "inner self".
Kasumi
The voice that plays back like a recording makes me feel discomfort. Just looking at her and seeing insignificant differences between us makes me unbearably conscious about them.
Kasumi
Aah, was I always such a... frail and pitiable girl?
Kiiri
"Great Detective?"
Kasumi
I wonder why she calls me that… hnng, just being in this place makes me unable to think clearly.
Kasumi
But, just abandoning one's self is something most people can't do.
Kasumi
I'll properly help and protect you okay... Kiiri?
Kiiri
"Thank you very much♪"
Kasumi
Yep... Just treating her with a bit of kindness and approval is all it takes to get her to become attached.
Kasumi
Once again, that's just like me.
Kasumi
Huh? What's up, Assistant? It looks like you have something you want to say.
Kasumi
Huhu. Kiiri and I act nothing alike? Well, that's because this is a character I’ve made up...
Kasumi
An act that mimics the exemplary Great Detectives I've idealized since my childhood.
Kasumi
Of course, that is also me. The me that is faint and frail just like Kiiri, is also me. Neither part of me can just be cut off and tossed aside.
Kasumi
Huhu. It's turned into some sort of philosophical discussion all of a sudden.
Kiiri
"Can I..."
Kasumi
Hm? What's that, Kiiri?
Kiiri
"Can I become a Great Detective?"
Kasumi
Of course you can. A beacon of light to aid the lost and bewildered; a cool, intelligent Great Detective is what you'll definitely become.
Kasumi
What you've yearned for since childhood, to become like a protagonist in a story... a noble existence.
Kasumi
The me you see before you is evidence of that. If that isn't proof enough for you, then I'll give a speech as many times as it takes to convince you.